Kuala Lumpur : Hong Kong China’s Lee Cheuk Yiu delivered one of the standout performances of the opening round at the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2026, knocking out reigning BWF World Tour Finals champion Christo Popov in a gripping three-game contest at the Axiata Arena on Tuesday.
According to the BWF World Tour official website, Lee held his nerve in a high-intensity encounter that lasted 74 minutes, eventually prevailing 2–1 to derail Popov’s campaign at the first Super 1000 event of the season (BWF World Tour).
Popov, who closed 2025 on a high by winning the World Tour Finals, entered the tournament as one of the favourites. However, Lee’s defensive solidity and patience in long rallies proved decisive, especially during the crucial points of the decider, as reported by bwfworldtour.bwfbadminton.com.
“It was a very tough match physically and mentally. I just tried to stay calm and fight for every point,” Lee said after the match, as quoted by the BWF World Tour.
The defeat comes as a major early blow for Popov, who had been tipped for a deep run in Kuala Lumpur following his impressive late-season form last year. Lee, meanwhile, moves ahead with renewed confidence in a draw that has already begun to open up.
The Malaysia Open, a flagship event on the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1000 circuit, offers crucial ranking points and sets the tone for the 2026 season. Several top players are in action this week as the tournament continues until January 11.
Source: BWF World Tour
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